TO A YOUNG ASS.

Poor ass! thy master should have learnt to show
Pity-best taught by fellowship of woe;

TO A YOUNG ASS.

How askingly its footsteps hither bend!

It seems to say, "And have I then one friend?"
Innocent foal! thou poor despised, forlorn!

I hail thee brother, spite of the fool's scorn;

And fain would take thee with me, in the dell

Of peace and mild equality to dwell,

Where toil shall call the charmer health his bride,

And laughter tickle plenty's ribless side!

How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play,
And frisk about as lamb or kitten gay!
Yea, and more musically sweet to me

Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be,
Than warbled melodies, that soothe to rest
The aching of pale fashion's vacant breast!

COLERIDGE.

A WOODNOTE.

KOME ye, come ye, to the green, green wood;
Loudly the blackbird is singing,

The squirrel is feasting on blossom and bud.
And the curling fern is springing:
Here ye may sleep

In the moss so deep,

While the noon is so warm and so weary,

And sweetly awake,

As the sun through the brake

Bids the fauvette and white-throat sing cheery.

The quicken is tufted with blossom of snow,
And is throwing its perfume around it;
The wryneck replies to the cuckoo's halloo,
For joy that again she has found it ;

The jay's red breast

Peeps over her nest,

In the midst of the crab-blossoms blushing;

And the call of the pheasant

Is frequent and pleasant,

When all other calls are hushing.

HOWITT.